In this paper, anatase type titania nanotube arrays were direct fabricated by anodization in dimethyl sulfoxide electrolyte containing 1 wt% HF solution at above 50 degrees C without subsequently annealing. The length of the nanotubes decreases with increasing anodization temperature from about approximately 15 mm at 40 degrees C to approximately 4.5 mm at 60 degrees C. High resolution transmission electron microscope images and selected area electron diffraction pattern confirm the polycrystalline anatase specimen consisting of many nanocrystals with a random orientation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.